A RARE SET OF GILT-LACQUER AND POLYCHROME BRONZE FIGURES OF THE NINE EMPEROR GODS CHINA, MING DYNASTY

each cast dressed in the robes of an official, standing with hands clasped at chest level, eight holding hu audience tablets, one holding a scroll, with details highlighted in pigment (9)

All the figures have losses to the gilt-lacquer, minor casting flaws, and nicks and wear associated with age. The red and green pigment appears to be a later enhancement. Each figure also has four digits written on its back. In addition, the first figure from the left in the catalogue image has a crack on the left side of the base and a hole in the top of the head; the second figure has a crack across the back with an associated loss, repairs to the left shoulder visible on the interior, cracks, repair and two small holes on the left sleeve, and a crack to the end of the trailing ribbon on the right; the third figure has a repair to the right shoulder visible on the interior, a loss of one pin and associated damage to the top of the headdress, and a small hole on the right sleeve; the fourth figure is missing a section of the ridge ornament on his headdress, there is a hole in the left sleeve, there is a hole in the front of the base and a chip and loss to the rear right leg of the base; the fifth figure has two holes in the back of the right sleeve and one in the back above the hem, and there is an old repair to a section of the trailing ribbon on the figure's right; the sixth figure has a hole just behind the hands, cracks and holes in both sleeves, and a small hole in the back of the base; the seventh figure has a small hole and crack in the left sleeve; the eighth figure has a crack and repair on the left sleeve, and small scattered holes in the base; the ninth figure has two small holes on the left sleeve, a repaired hole on the right and a crack on the right side of the base.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The nine emperor gods are personifications of stars in the Big Dipper. Their veneration has its roots in nature worship dating back to prehistoric times. With the rise of religious Daoism during the Han dynasty, they began to be represented in human form. Their main festival falls on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month and is still celebrated in places with large Chinese populations that trace their ancestry to Fujian province, such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia. It is rare to find a complete set.